In early learning and child care environments, children receive care and nurturing, learn to socialize with their peers, and develop important skills. They may also, however, come into contact with a variety of potentially harmful chemicals or pollutants.
Children may take in such chemicals by mouthing certain plastic or painted toys, eating foods heated in plastic
containers, breathing in fine dust from art and craft materials, or absorbing chemicals through their skin from cleaning products. While chemical exposures from individual products may be small, they can add up and, in combination, potentially contribute to asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and other chronic conditions.
The good news is that many environmental exposures can be prevented. You can play an important part in this prevention by choosing safer products for your child care centre and using potentially hazardous products safely.
Toys
If buying plastic toys, look for PVC- or phthalate-free y
toys. Avoid toys with “vinyl” or “PVC” on the label, or those with a strong chemical smell. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) contains potentially harmful phthalates. Be aware that most inflatable toys (such as those for y
water play) are made of PVC.
If possible, choose unpainted wooden toys, toys with y
lead-free paint, or machine-washable cloth toys. Avoid second-hand, donated or inexpensive toys that y
may contain lead. Metal objects (such as play jewellery) that feel heavy for their size may also contain lead. Visit the Health Canada Consumer Product Safety y
website and subscribe to the e-mail list (cpsn-subscribe- [email protected]) to learn of consumer advisories, warnings and product recalls.
Art and craft Materials
Choose art and craft materials specifically labelled y
“intended for use by children” and avoid products that bear hazard symbols. A product labelled “non-toxic” is not an assurance of safety.
Look for products with the “Approved Product” (AP) seal y
from the American Arts and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). This label assures some measure of safety. Select liquid, gel and paste art materials rather than y
powders and sprays, and water-based art and craft materials rather than solvent-based products.
Personal care Products
Choose fragrance-free products. y
Do not use antibacterial hand soap. Proper hand y
washing with plain soap and water removes most germs. When soap and water are not available, an unscented, y
alcohol-based hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative. When buying sunscreen, look for products bearing the y
Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) logo with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
Favour sunscreens that contain reflecting physical y
blockers, such as titanium dioxide, and avoid those containing chemical blockers, such as octyl methoxycinnamate or oxybenzone. To play it safe, write to companies to find out if the sunscreens you choose contain nanoparticles — ultra-small particles that may be absorbed through the skin.
disinfectants
Use bleach solutions when and where required and in y
the concentrations recommended by your public health unit.
If choosing alternatives to bleach for disinfection — y
such as products containing hydrogen peroxide, phenol (rinsing is required after application), and thyme oil — ensure products have a drug identification number (DIN) or Pest Control Products (PCP) Act number.
cleaning Products
For tasks other than disinfection, choose products with y
the fewest hazard symbols. Plain soap or detergent will suffice in many cases.
Use fragrance-free and biodegradable laundry soaps. Do y
not use dryer sheets or scented fabric softeners. For routine cleaning tasks, choose reusable cloth wipes y
instead of disposable chemical wipes.
Choose the least toxic carpet and oven cleaners. y
Look for products bearing the EcoLogo. These are y
typically less toxic than conventional ones.
Do not use deodorizers or air “fresheners” (including y
plug-ins). Most rely on potentially harmful chemicals to cover up offensive odours.
Pest control Products
Use preventive measures — such as regular cleaning, y
building maintenance and safe food storage — to reduce the risk of infestations.
For minor pest problems, select chemical-free and non- y
toxic measures whenever possible.
Choosing to buy safer products is one way you can protect the health of children in your care. The way you use products and the practices you engage in on a daily basis are equally important.
For more information and practical tips on healthier, greener practices in the child care setting, refer to
Advancing Environmental Health in Child Care Settings: A Checklist for Child Care Practitioners and Public Health Inspectors at www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
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Under s t anding t he Child Day Car e Regulations
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
The canadian Partnership for children’s health and Environment (cPchE) is a group of organizations that have
been working together since 2001 to protect children’s health from environmental exposures to toxic chemicals and pollutants.
CPCHE grants permission to reprint properly credited excerpts from its resources for educational purposes only. Please include CPCHE’s website address www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca in the citation. CPCHE does not grant permission for use of its resources for commercial purposes.
If an infestation occurs, use traps rather than poisons. y
If poison must be used, choose pastes and gels instead of powders and sprays, and follow label instructions carefully. Always ensure that pest control products are inaccessible to children, and work in consultation with your local public health unit.
Insect repellents
For DEET-containing repellents, select only those y
specifically intended for children. Choose those with the lowest possible DEET concentration, and not higher than ten per cent. Use as directed.
When choosing alternatives to DEET, select products y
registered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Avoid eucalyptus-based repellents or products y
containing citronella or lavender oil, as these can be harmful to children.
Furnishings
Most sleeping mats are covered with vinyl (PVC). Air y
out new mats for three days before using them indoors, and ensure children do not mouth or chew on them by covering them with a washable fabric.
When replacing carpets, choose smooth hard flooring y
(not vinyl) and cover where needed with machine- washable area rugs. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting.
Food Storage and Serving Ware
When purchasing food storage containers, opt for glass, y
lead-free ceramic or stainless steel.
For dishes and cutlery, consider glass, lead-free ceramic, y
stainless steel or bamboo as alternatives to plastic. If you use plastic, polypropylene (#5) is a better choice. y
Avoid storing hot food in plastic.
Where can You Get More Information? Advancing Environmental Health in Child Care Settings
(CPCHE) – see box, over
Child Health and the Environment: A Primer (CPCHE)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/Primer.pdf
Childproofing for Environmental Health: An Examination of Food Related Exposures (Toronto Public Health)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/resources/ childproofing-environmental-health-examination-food- related-exposures
Online Collection on Toy Safety (CPCHE)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/collections/toy- safety
Consumer Product Safety Warnings and Advisories (Health Canada)
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/aw-am/index- eng.php
Safety in the Arts (Canadian Child Care Federation)
www.cccf-fcsge.ca/docs/cccf/RS_21-e.pdf
Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care (Canadian
Paediatric Society)
www.caringforkids.cps.ca/wellbeings/index.htm
Online Collection on Pesticides (CPCHE)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/collections/ pesticides
Insect Repellents (Health Canada)
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/insect-eng.php
Insect Repellents for Children (Canadian Paediatric Society)
www.caringforkids.cps.ca/keepkidssafe/repellents.htm
Online Collection on Phthalates (CPCHE)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/collections/ phthalates
Online Collection on Bisphenol A (CPCHE)
www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/collections/ bisphenol
Smart Plastics Guide: Healthier Food Uses of Plastics (Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy)
www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=102202
Guide to Less Toxic Products (Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia)
www.lesstoxicguide.ca
Printed in Canada on 100% post-consumer recycled stock.
Following these tips is not always simple. Alternative products can be more expensive and they may be hard to find. And simply reading labels won’t always tell you everything that is in a product.
When you make the effort to ask for and choose safer products, you are not only protecting the health of the children in your care, you are also helping to push the marketplace so that everyone can access safer, reasonably priced products.
We can all play a part in securing better laws to protect children from toxic chemicals in consumer products, including mandatory product labelling and full disclosure of ingredients.
For CPCHE’s position on these and other issues, see
First Steps in Lifelong Health: A Vision and Strategy for Children’s Health and Environment in Canada, at www. healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
March 2010
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